Apple Ad One-Upped: ‘I’ll Be Home’ Played Right On An iPad Mini With Futulele [Video]

Got that? The latest Apple ad in which a young girl plays “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” to her grandfather via FaceTime on an iPad mini has been one-upped. This video shows a young woman playing and singing the same tune on an iPad mini. Only this time, she’s using the iPad app, Futulele, to play the song right on her magical device.

In this somewhat odd, yet sincere, video, the singer is playing the song while accompanying herself using the iOS app, Futulele, which turns an iPad into a Ukulele. The app uses 72 high-quality Ukulele string samples to make the output sound as real and natural as possible, and can be combined with an iPhone player app to fully complete the digital Uke makeover.

It is not a secret that many iPad owners also have an iPhone, so Futulele is an excellent and innovative reason to get the best musical juices flowing out of both. A special guitar-shaped case holds the two devices, making it possible to select the chord on the iPhone and strum along the iPad screen, just as on a regular instrument. Changing a chord requires only one tap, and the strumming technique is easy and convenient. No external wires or hardware accessories are needed, since the devices use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (selected automatically) for communicating.

The video is a cute take on the iPad mini Apple ad, even if it does seem like it could just as easily been a parody of sorts. The app is available now for $2.99 in the App Store, so if you’re a Uke junkie like me, be sure to give it a look.